Following the example of the new Benghazi, Eritrea and Somalia belong to the brothers

Eritrean President Asaias Afwerki and Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullah Faramago signed an agreement on the normalization of diplomatic relations, the exchange of ambassadors between their countries and coordination on security issues in the region.

This came during the visit of Faramago to the Eritrean capital Asmara, which began three days ago and concluded on Monday, the first of its kind to the President of Somalia since the independence of Eritrea in 1993.

The signing of this agreement follows tense relations that lasted more than ten years, opening a new page of rapprochement between the countries of the Horn of Africa.

The agreement, entitled "Statement on fraternal relations", states that "the two countries will establish diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors", signed by Presidents Afewerki and Framago.

The two countries pledged to promote trade, investment and cooperation in education, culture and economy, as well as defense and security cooperation.

The statement also stressed the cooperation of the two countries in harmony to promote regional peace and stability and economic integration.

Eritrea affirmed its support for the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia and its Government, its restoration of the right state and the realization of the lofty aspirations of its people.

Somali President Faramago expressed his country's welcome for the resumption of relations and cooperation with Eritrea in the fields of security, economy and development. He called for lifting the embargo and economic sanctions imposed on Eritrea to facilitate cooperation between the countries of the Horn of Africa.

The agreement falls within the framework of positive changes taking place in the Horn of Africa after a sudden convergence between Eritrea and Ethiopia in recent weeks.

The rapprochement between Eritrea and Ethiopia was marked by the signing of a joint declaration on July 9, ending nearly two decades of war between the two countries since their last conflict between 1998 and 2000.

The two countries have re-activated diplomatic relations and reopened their airspace for commercial flights.

On July 18, the first commercial flight from Ethiopia landed at Asmara airport after 20 years of suspension.

Synaptic history
The three countries have a recent history that is intertwined. Somalia - under the military regime of General Mohamed Siad Barre - supported Eritrea in its war for independence from Ethiopia.

After the fall of Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia sank into chaos, while Eritrea and Ethiopia entered a new conflict that lasted from 1998 to 2000, leaving some 80,000 dead. In the middle of the first decade of this century, Somalia became a proxy war zone between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Ethiopia has backed a transitional government in Mogadishu, while Eritrea has been accused of providing support to Islamist militants in their bid to overthrow Somalia's central authority.

"The era of crisis, conflict and instability can not last," said the Eritrean president. "This era is coming to an end, we are entering a new era of transition," he said.

The reformist Abe Ahmed assumed the presidency of the Ethiopian government in April and was quick to launch a rapprochement with Eritrea.

Ethiopia has formally asked the United Nations to lift sanctions on Eritrea. The Secretary-General of the Organization, Antonio Guterich, suggested that such sanctions may no longer be justified.

In a related context, Djibouti requested UN mediation to settle its border dispute with Eritrea.